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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. firm — decided
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. roll — a list
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. firm — a company
  10. stock — shares
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. firm — steady
  15. cue — a signal
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. cue — for pool
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. roll — a cake
  22. stock — goods
  23. cue — a hint
  24. trunk — of a car

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com